Police killings: Government sets up independent committee to probe incident

Government has set an independent probe into the Police killing of alleged robbery suspects who were shot near Anwiankwanta in the Bekwai Municipality, Deputy Information Minister, Curtis Perry Okudzeto has indicated.

Tensions have heightened after the shooting and killing of some seven suspected robbers by the Police on Tuesday. Relatives and members of the New Patriotic Party in the region have claimed the suspects were not robbers as claimed by the Police.

Residents of Asawase also claim the killings were targeted at Muslim youth in the community.

However, the Ashanti Regional Police Commander DCOP Akwasi Duku at a press briefing Wednesday parried criticism that the police unlawfully killed the suspects who were shot near Anwiankwanta in the Bekwai Municipality.

But a statement issued by government and signed by the Deputy Minister said:”Since the Police and families of the seven young men have different versions of the occurrence, government has decided to set up an independent committee to investigate the matter.”

Government in its statement called for restraint among members of the Muslim community while investigations are being carried out on the matter.

Violence erupted in Asawase, a suburb of Kumasi in the Ashanti region Friday after irate youth disrupted a supposed meeting between the Inspector General of Police, David Asante-Apeatu, the Interior Minister, Zongo development Minister and the leadership of the Zongo youth in Asawase.

The irate youth who besieged the Central mosque in Asawase succeeded in chasing away the IGP and his security capos from holding their planned meeting to ensure peace in the community.

According to Ultimate FM’s Isaac Bediako Justice, the police had to fire tear gas to disperse the angry youth who have been rioting since Thursday after the killing of some suspected armed robbers.

The youth, Bediako reports have blocked roads with burnt tyres and blocks making it difficult for residents to access the area.